Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott smiles during the Kurt Warner Ultimate Football Experience at the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on Saturday, March 11, 2017. David Wallace/azcentral sports

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The Cowboys? Dak Prescott set the NFL record for most pass attempts without an interception to start a career (176).
Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott (4) throws a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade) ORG XMIT: OTKTG153 Brandon Wade, Associated Press

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Nick Perry led the defense with 36 pressures, including 12 sacks.
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 15: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball while being pursued by Nick Perry #53 of the Green Bay Packers in the first half during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium on January 15, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) Joe Robbins, Getty Images

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Cowboys quarterbacks Tony Romo, left, and Dak Prescott talk before an NFC divisional playoff game against the Packers on Jan. 15 in Arlington, Texas.
FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2017, file photo, Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo talks to Dak Prescott before an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. Now that NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Prescott is entrenched as the starting quarterback for the Cowboys, it will be fascinating to see what happens with his predecessor, Romo. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File) Michael Ainsworth, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dak Prescott , the 2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Dallas Cowboys quarterback, will serve as keynote speaker for the annual Legacy of Light Gala on April 29 at Middle Tennessee Christian School.

Although Prescott is known for his history-making rookie season and holds nearly 40 records at Mississippi State University, it is his faith story that is truly inspirational, said MTCS President Matt Tiller.

“His historic success in his rookie year, and being a Southern SEC football star, we thought he’d have a broad appeal in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County,” Tiller said. “But he’s got a great faith story … that’s consistent with our message here at the Christian school. Those two things combined made him a great choice.”

Prescott, the youngest of three boys, lost his mother in 2013 to colon cancer, Tiller explained. Prescott’s mother asked her pastor to “say something impactful” to her boys and take care of them when she was gone. The pastor gave all three boys a word, and the quarterback’s word was “faith.”

At every NFL game, Prescott writes the word “faith” on tape that is wrapped around his wrist, Tiller said.

Tiller hopes Prescott’s story will inspire others who attend the Legacy of Light Gala, which hosted former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee last year and former First Lady Laura Bush two years ago.

“I think (the gala) has turned out to be a pretty well-known event, and it’s going to be a great event again,” Tiller said.

For those who want to get up close and personal with Prescott, there will be a sponsorship dinner prior to his keynote address, where guests will be able to participate in a question-and-answer session with the star quarterback. Sponsorships start at $600 and go up.

General admission tickets are $50 per person and $75 for reserved seating. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the program begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the regular program can be purchased on the website at www.mtcscougars.org. To learn more about sponsorships, call Beth Hancock at the school at 615-893-0601, ext. 114.

Reach reporter Nancy De Gennaro at 615-278-5148 or degennaro@dnj.com, and follow her on Twitter @DNJMama.